Moistener for sheets gummed on both sides



April 13, 1954 T. H. KRIUEGER 2,674,975

MOISTENER FOR SHEETS GUMMED ON BOTH SIDES Filed Feb. 23, 1951 PatentedApr. 13, 1954 MOISTENER FOR SHEETS GUMMED ON BOTH SIDES Theodore HenryKrueger, Stratford, Conn., assignor to Better Packages Incorporated, acorporation of New York Application February 23, 1951, Serial No.212,267

7 Claims. 1

The invention relates to moisteners for moistening both sides of a sheetsuch as a mounting paper which has gum on each side thereof. Theinvention finds particular utility for the moistening of such mountingpapers or strips which are used for applying ungummed address labels orsales slips to packages. It has become a widespread practice ofdepartment stores and the like when making sales to a customer to havesales slips prepared in manifold. with the customers name and addressthereon, one copy of which is attached to the package and provides thedelivery address. Such sales slips are usually ungummed and it istherefore necessary to attach the same to the package by the use of glueor paste, or by the use of a mounting paper having gum on both sideswhich when moistened will attach itself to the address slip and also tothe package, thereby holding the address slip in position. One form ofthe moistener which is particularly adapted for this class of work has apair ofopposed brushes between which the mounting paper may be passedand simultaneously moistened on both faces. The construction andarrangement particularly of the upper brush is such that the sales slipor the like may be simultaneously handled with the mounting paper andattached thereto as the latter is drawn through the moistener, whereuponthe address slip is in effect provided with a moistened gummed surfacewhich may be directly afiixed to the merchandise to be shipped. Theinvention is not limited to the particular use described, but isapplicable to other purposes.

In the accompanying drawings which show one preferred embodiment of theinvention:

Fig. l. is a perspective view of the moistener;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the upper brush and feed table lifted;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3--3 of Fig. 1; Y

Fig. 4 is a perspective View showing the mounting paper about to be fedinto the moistener;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the mounting paper being fedthrough the moistener and the address slip being attached thereto at thesame time; and

Fig. 6 is a transverse section showing a different adjustment of themounting table from that shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the moistener comprises a box lilsebase It open at the top and forming a water reservoir. The base ispreferably provided with rubber or felt feet l2. Mounted near t e frontof the water reservoir is a lower brush [4, the butt it of which restsin a groovela, and is held against slipping rearwardly by a pair of lugs20. The brush M is preferably inclined slightly forward and its top endmay have the bristles cut in rounded formation as indicated at 22.

Mounted in the rear part of the water reservoir is a plate 24 preferablymade of spring metal and having at its bottom a flange 26 secured to thebottom of the reservoir in any suitable manner as by screws 28. At thetop of plate 24 a rod 3 3 is mounted which extends across the top edgeof the plate and is secured near its ends by bracket plate 32. The endsof the rod 30 extend slightly beyond the ends of the plate 24 andpivoted on the rod ends is a feed table 34 which has end flanges 3%which are perforated at their rear ends so as to engage the rod ends.When this feed table is tipped down into operative position, as shown inFig. 3, its forward, front or free edge is close to the back of theupper part of brush l4 so as to guide the mounting papers: over thebrush. There is a double adjustment of this table by which its front orfree edge may be brought into desired position relative to the brush.

The vertical position of the table is adjustable by means of a stop head38 at the upper end of an adjusting screw ill, which screws into apillar 42 projecting upwardly from the bottom of the reservoir. The head38 is preferably knurled so that the screw may be conveniently screwedup and down and a friction spring 44 is mounted thereon which holds thescrew in adjusted position. The table 34 may also be adjusted in asubstantially horizontal direction towards and from the brush byadjusting the angle of the plate 24.

For this purpose a pair of adjusting screws 46 are provided screwingthrough nuts 48 fixed to the plate 2&. The screws are provided withknurled heads 59 and carry friction springs 52. which hold the screws inadjustment while permitting them to be readily turned. The ends of thescrews bear against the rear wall of the Water reservoir. The plate 24is of somewhat resilient metal and is bent at such an angle to theflange 26 that it will normally hold the ends of the screws 48 againstthe reservoir wall. By unscrewing the screws a little way, it will beseen that the resilient plate will move toward the right (Fig. 6),carrying with it the rod 30 and table 34; while by screwing the screwsout through the plate, the latter will be pushed towards the leftthereby moving the edge of t .e feed table 34 closer to the brush M.

The brush M constitutes the means for mois- The ably provided with aflange portion 63 extending under the brush bristles to support thesame. The flange also acts as an upper guide for directing the edge ofthe mounting paper towards the brush intersection. The upper wall of thechannel preferably comprises a central portion 64 extending over thebutt of the brush and two spring ears 66, which are partially separatedfrom the wall 64 by notches 68 so as to make the ears somewhat moreeasily bendable. These ears 66 are also depressed slightly with relationto the wall 6 4 so that when the butt of the brush is pushed into thechannel they will snap over the butt strip and retain the brush firmlyin the channel. Obviously any other formation for removably holding thebrush may be employed.

The edge of the brush 54 is preferably trimmed at an angle as indicatedat 10 so that the brush has a chisel shape with the bevel facing downand resting upon the tips of the bristles of the brush Hi. The tips ofthe bristles of the two brushes may intenningle a little way asindicated in Fig. 6.

When the reservoir is partially filled with water this water will riseup the bristles of the brush I4 by capillary action and similar actionwill cause the water to pass into the bristles of brush 54 so that thelatter .will also be maintained sufiiciently wet for moisteningpurposes. This contact of the two brushes will keep a film of waterbetween the tips of both brushes at all times so that during periods ofnon-use the tips of the brushes will not dry out, but will always beready for action. In the .particular form of the invention illustrated,the spreading of the moisture to the upper brush is promoted by the factthat the upper brush is mounted at a considerable angle from thevertical so that the water does not have to rise vertically in the upperbrush, but will spread through the latter at an angle preferably notvery much removed from the horizontal. As indicated in Fig. 3 the upperbrush is at approximately right angles to the lower brush and at anangle of usually not over about from the horizontal. This particularangular relationship is however not essential so long as the brushes areso arranged as to form an angle which will permit the gu mmed strips tobe passed between them.

In the operation of the device the mounting paper 12, .which has gum onboth faces is pushed from the rear over the table 34 and passes betweenthe tips of the brushes. This can be readily accomplished preferably byholding the paper so that it is cupped longitudinally between the thumband finger thereby giving it sufficient stiffness to enable it to bereadily pushed between the brushes. After the end of it has been pushedbetween the brushes, it may be grasped and pulled the rest of the waythrough and will come out moistened on both sides. When the mountingpaper is used for applying address slips or the likeit is preferabletolay the address slip 14 on the upper surface of the moistened mountingpaper as soon as it is projected from the brush. The mounting paper andaddress slip may then be grasped, as shown in Fig. 5, and the mountingpaper drawn completely through the moistening element, the address slipbeing adhered thereto as the moistening paper is drawn out of themachine. The address slip with the moistened mounting paper on its backmay now be applied to the package exactly as if it were a moistenedgummed label.

The method of applying the address slip to the moistened mounting paperas the mounting paper is drawn out from between the brushes isfacilitated by the position and manner of mounting of the upper brush.In the particular example of the invention illustrated, it will be seenthat the slightly inclined position of the upper brush and its supportby arms projecting upwardly from the base of the apparatus keeps theentire brush, including the butt portion thereof, low. There are noobstructions above the brush. This construction permits the address slipto be laid on top of the brush and readily drawn along with themoistened mounting paper as shown in Fig. 5.

It will be seen that relative adjustment of the brush tips may beaccomplished by moving the upper brush in a back and forth directionsimultaneously with the adjustment of the table 34.

The adjustable mounting of the feed table is,

important as it permits the table to be properly aligned with the anglebetween the brushes so that as the label is pushed over the table it isguided to the proper position for passage between the brushes. Thebrushes are not always the same length so that the up and downadjustment of the table by the screw head 38 permits the elevation ofthe edge of the table to be regulated. The adjustment of the screws 46permits the edge of the table to be brought nearer to or removed furtherfrom :c angle of intersection of the brushes. The line of the brushintersection will change from time to time as the brushes are used. Inaddition to changes due to ordinary wear the brush bristles get softerand the tip of the lower brush will bend over eventually more or less asshown inFig. 3. This will necessitate a lowering of the table. tablewere maintained in a raised position the feeding of the labels might beactually prevented by the interference of the upper brush which moves toa lower position as the lower brush bends over.

In the particular construction shown, the arms supporting the upperbrush are pivoted at the upper edge of the plate 24 as described. Theadjustment of the screws 46 thus permits the upper brush to be adjustedback and forth with respect to the lower brush. Obviously this adjustment might be made in any other way as the brush need notnecessarily be supported on the plate 24.

For removing and cleaning Of the brushes and for filling the reservoirwith .water, the upper brush and feed table may be tilted upwardly asshown in Fig. '2.

While certain preferred embodiments of the r invention have beenillustrated and described in 4 detail, it is to be understood thatchanges may be made therein and the invention embodied in otherstructures. It is not, therefore, the intention to limit the patent tothe specific construction illustrated, but to cover the inventionbroadly in whatever form its principle may be utilized.

If the I claim:

1. A moistener for sheets gummed on both faces comprising a waterreservoir, a lower brush mounted therein in inverted position and anupper brush mounted above the lower brush, both brushes extendingsubstantially the full length of the reservoir, the tips of the brushescontacting and forming a moistening couple, the upper brush normallyoccupying a position during use in which it is at an angle no greaterthan about 30 from the horizontal.

2. A moistener for sheets gummed on both faces comprising a waterreservoir, a lower brush mounted therein in inverted position and anupper brush mounted above the lower brush, the tips of the brushescontacting throughout their length and forming a moistening couple, theupper and lower brushes normally occupying positions during use about atright angles to one another, the bristles of the upper brush beingbeveled to give the brush a chisel shape with the bevel facing towardsthe lower brush.

3. A moistener for sheets gummed on both faces comprising a lower brushmounted in inverted position, an upper brush mounted above the lowerbrush at an angle thereto, the tips of the brushes contacting to form amoistening couple, means for supplying moisture to the brushes, a feedtable mounted in a position intermediate the brushes and having itsplane directed substantially towards the line of intersection of thebrushes so as to guide sheets passed over its surface between the tipsof the brushes, means for adjusting the elevation of the front edge ofthe table so as to bring it into alignment with the line of intersectionof the brush tips, and means for adjusting the table in its own plane soas to adjust the position of the front edge of the table towards andfrom the brush tips.

4. In a moistener of the character described, an open top reservoir, aninverted brush mounted in said reservoir, a table carrier mounted insaid reservoir, a feed table mounted in the reservoir and pivoted at itsrear edge to said carrier for pivotal movement about a horizontal axisand having its free edge in juxtaposition to the upper part of theinverted brush, means for adjusting the elevation of the feed tableabout said horizontal axis, and means for adjusting the part of thetable carrier to which the table is pivoted in a substantiallyhorizontal direction thereby adjusting said table in a substantiallyhorizontal direction so as to bring the edge of the table into thedesired position relative to the upper part of the inverted brush.

5. In a, moistener of the character described, an open top reservoir, aninverted brush mounted in said reservoir, a table carrier mounted insaid reservoir having an upper part movable in a generally horizontaldirection, a feed table mounted in the reservoir and pivoted at its rearedge to said upper part of said carrier for pivotal movement about ahorizontal axis and having its free edge in juxtaposition to the upperpart of the inverted brush, means for adjusting the elevation of thefeed ta'ble about said horizontal axis, and means for adjusting the partof the table carrier to which the table is pivoted in a substantiallyhorizontal direction thereby adjusting said table in a substantiallyiii) horizontal direction so as to bring the edge of the table into thedesired position relative to the upper part of the inverted brush, abrush carrier above the water reservoir pivoted to the table carrier formovement about a horizontal axis and an upper brush carried by saidpivoted brush carrier and having the ends of its bristles normally incontact with the ends of the bristles of the lower brush.

6. A moistener of the character described comprising a water receptacleopen at the top, means for holding an inverted brush in the forward partof the said receptacle, a resilient flanged plate mounted in asubstantially vertical position in the rear part of said receptacle withthe flanged portion of the plate screwed to the bottom of thereceptacle, an adjusting screw carried by the resilient plate andbearing against the back of the receptacle, a feed table mounted in thereservoir pivoted at its rear edge to the top of said resilient platefor movement about a horizontal axis, and having its free edge injuxtaposition to the upper part of the inverted brush, a pillar risingfrom the bottom of the receptacle and carrying an adjusting screw, the

head of which is adapted to bear against the under side of said table,an upper brush carrier comprising a horizontally arranged brush holdingchannel having downwardly projecting arms at the ends thereof, means forpivotally mounting said arms at the ends of the upper edge of saidresilient plate for movement about a horizontal axis, and an upper brushcarried by said upper brush carrier and having the tips of its bristlesengaging the top of the lower brush.

7. A moistener for a mounting sheet gummed on both faces, comprising awater reservoir having a substantially flat open top, a lower brushmounted therein in inverted position, a feed table mounted near the topof the reservoir in a substantially horizontal position, an upper brushmounted above the feed table and at an angle thereto, the tip of theupper brush contacting the tip of the lower brush, and means forsupporting the upper brush from the water reservoir comprisingsupporting means near the top of the reservoir near the side of the sameremote from the tips of the brushes, arms pivotally connected to saidsupporing means for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, said armsprojecting upwardly and forwardly near the ends of the water reservoir,a brush carrier connecting the upper ends of said arms and extendinghorizontally between the same, the butt of the upper brush being securedto said carrier, no part of the arms, brush carrier or tank extendingsub stantially above the upper level of the butt of the brush so as toobstruct the passage of a sheet over the brush for attachment to agummed. mounting sheet passed between the brushes to be moistenedthereby.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 729,143 Derepas et a1 May 26, 1903 956,723 Neubronner May 3,1910 1,121,554 Downey Dec. 15, 1914 1,732,637 Gautier Oct. 22, 19291,923,936 Keck Aug. 23, 1933 1,996,313 Watkins Apr. 2, 1935

